   Don’t Buy a Pig in a PokeIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "Don’t buy a pig in a poke" means don’t buy something without seeing or checking it first. It’s a country proverb warning folks not to get tricked. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #Southern #FarmTalk #Proverbs Hillbilly Dude Says...  I've heard 'don’t buy a pig in a poke, all my life, it's a common one. Pronunciation[DOANT bye uh PIG in uh POHK] Meaning & Usage- Don’t purchase blindly (proverb)
Mae:
They’re selling it online but won’t send pictures.
Earl:
Don’t buy a pig in a poke, honey - you’ll regret it.- Beware of hidden defects (figurative)
Mae:
That car’s cheap but looks shady.
Earl:
Yep. Don’t buy a pig in a poke.other spellings: never buy a pig in a poke ★ This proverb draws from the old market trick of selling a "pig in a poke" (bag) but delivering something else inside. It’s still a perfect warning about online shopping or sight-unseen deals today. ★ OriginFrom medieval England, where a "poke" meant a bag. Unscrupulous sellers would substitute a cat or other small animal instead of a pig. Brought to the American South and Appalachia with settlers and firmly planted in rural speech as a proverb. NotesStill widely used in the South and Appalachia as a cautionary saying. Recognized elsewhere, but its farm-market image gives it a distinctly old-time rural feel. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "don’t buy a pig in a poke." The "poke" means a sack or bag. | Latest Sayings About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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